Republicans looked to win a historic majority in Arkansas' Legislature and sweep its four congressional seats in Tuesday's election, while Democrats hoped that the popularity of a two-term governor would prevail over the dislike of President Barack Obama as voters cast their ballots.

Candidates fanned across Arkansas on Monday making their final pitches to voters before an election that could hand Republicans a majority in the state Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction.

Democrat Gene Jeffress and two third-party candidates seeking an open U.S. House seat in south Arkansas painted Republican Tom Cotton as more concerned about financial backers than his potential constituents during a debate Thursday.